I thought this was a great story for this particular day. You never know who that person is that you meet, or pass in the street. Sometimes we get all caught up in a sense of our own importance.

William “Bill” Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our squadron janitor.

While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams, athletic events, Saturday morning parades and room inspections, or never-ending leadership classes, Bill quietly moved about the squadron mopping and buffing floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in a dormitory.

Sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering little more than a passing nod or throwing a curt, “G’morning!” in his direction as we hurried off to our daily duties.

http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/profiles_crawford_10lessons.html

http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/crawford.jpg

Constitutionally Speaking

11-11-2008, 01:49 PM

Wow. It is worth the extra time to click through the site and get the full story of his service and the events that led to his medal and the time he spent in a POW camp.